Device for passing cables through pipe lines



March 15, 1927.

J. M. THOMPSON ET AL DEVICEFOR PASSING CABLES THROUGH PIPE LINES Filed Dec 10, I925 I l .I II [III] lml ' cord or cable,

Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

,- sire srares M JOHN M. THOMPSON AND WILLIAM H. 'rHoMPson, or rnorwito}NEW "roan. I

DEVICE ron rassrne CABLES THROUGH PIPE LINES.

Application filed December 1-0, 1925. Serial No. 74,429.;

so that they are propelledthrough a pipe by a 'a current of water or other tached to the. carrier. After this cord has been passed through a pipe by the carrier, a

lighter cord and drawn through the pipe, whereupona pi v drawn through the pipe line by the stronger In cord carriers of thiskind ash'eretofore made, the carrier was so constructed that iffor any reason it should become stuck or lodged in a pipe, it could not be withdrawn rearwardly, since the cups of' the carrierwith which the liquid in the pipe cooperates to force the carrier through the pipe, are so shaped that they will catch on obstructions in the pipev if an attempt is made to draw them rearwardly, so that in some cases an actual excavation and breaking of the pipe is necessary in order to re- HXOVG thecarrier therefrom.

in'a pipe; also The objects of thisinvention are to-provide a cable carrier which is so constructed that it may be pulled backwardly out of a pipe in case the'cable carrier becomes stuck toprovide a carrier of this kind which is provided with a cup which; is readily collapsible in case obstructions are met and which is held tion resilient means; also to provide a carrier of this kind with yieldingly extended members which cooperate with the walls of the pipe to guide the carrier through a pipe and which are adapted to yield if obstructions are. encountered; also to arrange the resiliently extended" members so as to supcup in its operative position, and

port the to cause the cup to collapse when obstructions are encountered, whereby cups of.

material can be provided than has heretofore been possible; also to provide cups for carriers of this kind which are formedso as to enable edges of the cups to be deflected inwardly or yield when the carlighter rier is pulled rearwardly out of a pipe also to improve theconstruction of cable carriers of this kind in such a manner that the carrrier. can be made largelyof metal so that the same will be much more durable than other" devices for similar purposes heretofore liquid in the; pipe, "and a'li ht'cord' or hand line is at-i pe cleaning device may-be,

in its extended posi;

made; also to improve the construction-of cable carriers of this'kind in other-respects l' hereinafter specified.

In the accompanylng drawings, Fig. 1 18 a side view of a cable carrier embodying-our inventionandshowingthe same arranged in a pipe.

' Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional elevation thereof'on an enlargedscale. F1g. 3 15' a transverse, sectionalelevation thereof on line 3 8', Fig.1.

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary, side elevation j thereof, partly in section, showing the spring houslng of "he device.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section thereofon' line 55, Fig; 4, on a slightly larger scale.

The cord or cable carrier includes a'central rod or frame member'A, which may be of squarecross-section; By making thiscen-x tral member of tubular form,'it canbe made: very light and yet of ample strength and rigidity Cups oricup-shaped propelling members I B mounted on the rod'A' maybe made of any suitable, material, such for example as light canvas and should preferably. be comparatively thin and flexible. These. cups: each lnclude 'a cone shaped'portion l0 ter-I Ininating at its reduced-end in a hub. portion 11 which preferably fits closely around the tubular member or 'rod'A, and the larger, end .of the'cone-shaped portion 10 of the cup has an inwardly flaring or short frusto conical portion 12. which servesthe purpose of preventing the edges of the cup"fron1:catch,-

ing on any obstructions in the pipeif it should become necessary to-withdraw the carrier rearwardly out .of the pipe. .These.

inwardly flaring portions 12, in case Obstructions are encountered Wlll causeqthe portion of the cupcontacting with the obstruction to be deflected inwardly by the obstruction, and thus enablethe cup to pass beyond the obstruction. I a

Two cups 'B yieldinglyconnected with the rod A and extendingoutwardly beyond the portion of the are shown inthe particular f carrier illustrated, but it will be understoodthat one cuponly, or morePthan two cups cup of greatest diameter and these arms will be deflected inwardly: by; obstructions or bends in the pipe line and will bend in- Wardly the portions of the cups with which they contact, and thereby prevent the-cups from becoming caught on obstructions 1n.

the pipe, and means are also provided for deflecting these arms inwardlywhen the ca-rrier is withdrawn from a pipe rearwardly. Thesemeans, in the particular; construction shownaremzthe formof arms C pivotally connected at their outer'endsto the outer illustrated which are preferably arranged-E near; thBwOHiZGI. or enlarged portions-of the cup; The. ends of the arms areprovided with bearing sleeves orstraps 16. and 17, suitably; secured'cthereto', the outer bearing sleeve 17; being, pivotally connected with a:

pivot or hingepin 18',- to which a corresponding bearing: portion 19 of the arm G also hinged: Thisa-rm C is preferably similar inconstruction to the arm C and. is pro.-

videdat' its inner end with a bearingstrap orv member 2.0. Thebearingpin or pivot; 18

also. formsaibearing, for a roller'or disk 21,

which greatly facilitates the passage-of the carrier through a pipe line and the inward defiection'of the arms G, C when obstructions are encountered.

Theinner ends; of the: armsrC, C may beslidabl-y. andiyieldingly connected with the rod-iA- in. any suitable or-desired manner, in: such a way: that the: arms will normally beheldiin their outerpositions. In thepar- 'ticular construction shown for this purpose, the-bearing straps or'memberslti and 20 of? the arms C, G are pivotally connectedto slide membersD, D respectively.. Each of; these slide: members is preferably guided]. to move-lengthwiseof'the rod A2 by'means'of spring housings 22 and 23.2 The spring housings 22-andi23 may be ofrany suitable or de-' sired construction, those shown" being substantially channel or! U-shaped incross sectionand arranged with their open sides against the" sides of: the rod A, thus forming closed channels in whichthe slides may operate and in=the ends. of which springs 25 are arranged which tend to push the slides out of I the housings. The housings; for

the several F springs and f slide members may be formed separate and eachattached to the,

central rod independently of 'the other housings, orif desired a plurality. of housings may be connected orformed as a unit extending around the central rodz or tubular. memben A, the unit including connecting:

or cornerpieces or portionst26i secured to. or'formed integral with the housings 22 or F represents branch pipe extending into.

23,.so that theunit as a whole may be slid over the central tubular rod A and suitably secured'thereto; The front and rear housings 22 as shown in Figs, 1 and-2amsecured in place by means of a rivet. or pin 27 extending through the housingsand through the central tubular member A. The middle or intermediate spring housings 23 are arranged'inadouble unit, two housings .being arrangedend-on end and facing oropening in. opposite directions andithis unit. s se:

cured to the central tubular member A by means of a rivet or. bolt 28 extendingthrough-the centralzportion of theunit and. the central tubular member. A. Thehousings 2.3.facing. in one'direction'are adapted to accommodateslides D,zand those. facing in the-opposite directionszreceive the slides D", and the-springs25 actingjon theseslides bear againstv an inner. partition wall: 30' whichseparates the oppositely facing lions:

by means of slotsor recesses 34. formed/in the outer portions of the slidemembers, and.

pins-35 extend through thexrecessesB i and" are securedv at their ends inthe housings. When the springs 25 move the slide members D, D 'to their outer positions the: pins. 35-will engage with the inner-ends of the slots-or recesses 34in the slide members, and when the slide membersarepushed .into. their inner position against the action of the springs, the pins :35 will engage in thev other ends. of their recesses, and-together with the shoulders 83 prevent further inwardmovement of i the slide members.

Atilhe rear end .of the centralrod-or tube A, a suitable shackle 4:0 or other fasteningmeans is provided to which a. cordor cable l-maybesecured, and at the fr.ont -.end;lofi I the rod or tubular. memben A- .a .spear. shaped; or-tapered guidememberror head l2..is pref+ erably secured,- which serves to-guide .the. device-aroundicurvesin the pipe and tends totlreep the device from -.entering into elbows or" branches of. themain pipe. line. E,.,Eig:-

1, represents the :portion of the pipe through which the cord or cableis to beipassed, and. 19

themain pipe E; p In" operation, the device is; insertedinto a pipe with, thehead 91-2 extending; in the directionqin which the carrier. is intendedto,

pass through the pipe, and the cup or cups 130 B open toward the rear of the carrier. A

' cord or cable is then secured to the shackle per part of .40 at the end of the carrier.' Thefcups B normally held open. by'means of the are:

' D which act springs 25 and the slides D,

on the arms C, C to hold the same in the 7 position shown atthe left of position the rollers 21 will engage with the Fig. 1, in which innersurtace of the pipe. ,This action of the spring' not only guides the devicein the pipe and holds the same in correct position therein, but also tends .to dilate-or open the cups 13. Consequently when the current of liquid is flowing. through the pipe this liquid cooperatingwith thecups B will force the device forwardly through the pipe. In case an obstruction is encountered suchas the'branch pipe F shown in Fig. 1, ifthis obstruction is struck by an arm C, this arm into their sprmg housings against the'action of the springs 25. fAs soon as the obstruction is passed the spring 25 will again move the arms C, C into the "dotted line position shown'in j Fig. 2. Because of the flexible mounting of the arms C, C the device is not apt to become stuck in a pipe because ofobstructions therein. On the other hand, if

for any reason the device does become stuck in a pipe and must be withdrawn, comparatively slight pull on the cord or cable 41 will suliice to withdraw the device and in case obstructions aremet when the deviceis withdrawn, the arms C will readily yield iiitlie same manner as described with reference to the arms GQ It will'be obvious that .these arms can be moved inwardly until they are almost parallel with and lie in close proximity to the central tube A, so that even great obstructions in'the pipe will not,

prevent the passage of the carrier therethrough. 'In case a cup strikes an inwardly extending pro ection or obstruction in the pipe when the device is being moved rear- .wardly out of the pipe, such an obstruction will engage a portion of the inwardly flaring edge 12 ot' the cup, which will cause such portion of the cup to be deflected inwardly and thus pass over the obstruction without damage to the cup. Even if a cup should become caught on a projection in a pipe, the fact that the cup is made of light material will make it possible to tear or break the cup before the cord 41 will break, so that the device will not become lodged in a pipe. The cup can be readily replaced by removing the rivet 15 and placing another cup on the carrier. On the other hand the lightness of the cup does not in any way interfere with the operation of the device since the cups are held in their outer or operative position bythe Spl'l11gS'25 and not by their own stillness or rigidity.

We claim as our. invention:

1. "Inadevice for passing cables through pipe lines, the combination of a rod, a cup shaped propelling member of flexible ma terial arranged on said rod, and a plurality,

of pairs of arms,:each of said arms'of a pair being yieldinglyfconnected atone end to said rod and the other ends of saidarms being pivotally connected together, the. i

arms of each pair extending outwardly from' said rod'in opposite directions, .oneiarm of each pair being adjacent to saidcup-shaped member, whereby said armswill bedefiected inwardly toward said rod when meeting obstructions in the pipe line while said device is moving in either direction, the inward deflection of an arm by an obstruction cause ing said cup-shaped member tobev deflected away from said obstruction.

2. In a device for passing cables throughpipelines, the combination of a rod, a cupshaped propelling member of flexible-.ma

terial arranged on said rod, a plurality of pairs or arms pivotally connected together and extending in opposite directions from their pivots toward said-rod and being v yieldingly connected to said rod and ar-' ranged exteriorlytosaid cup-shaped memher, and means forryieldingly holding said pivoted portions of said arms outwardly, whereby said 1 arms may be moved inwardly by obstructions in saidpipe'when said device is passing through said 'pipe in either direction. a

I 3. In a device for passing cables through. pipe lines, tliecoiiibination'of a rod, a plu-J rality of pairs of arms arranged at intervals abouts-aid rod, the two arms of each pair being pivotally connected together at one of their ends and having their other ends spaced apart and slidably connected with said rod,

means for normally urging the pivoted portions of said arms outwardly with reference to said rod, and a cup-shaped propelling member of flexible materialarranged between said arms. i I I 4:. Ina device for passing cables through pipe lines, the combination of a rod, a plurality of pairs of arms arranged at intervals about said rod, the arms of each pair being:

pivotally connected to each other at one end and having their other ends spaced apart and slidably mounted on said rod, springs acting on said slidably mounted end in a direction to urge the pivotally connected endsof said arms outwardly from said rod, and a cupshaped propelling member of flexible material arranged between said arms.

5. In a device for passing cables through pipe lines, the combination of a rod, a plurality of pairs of arms arranged at intervals aboutsaid rode-the arms ofeach pair bei ng. pivotally'connected to each other at one end andhavin'g: their other ends: spaced apart and slidably mounted on said rod,springsacting on said slidably mounted end in a dieaoh' pair and. held in its extended positionre'ction to urge the pivotally connected ends of said arms outwardly: from said rod, hous-' ingsfor said springs secured to said rod and gnidingsaid arms in their sliding movement, and cup-shaped propelling member of flexible material connected to one arm of by saidarms :and adapted to be deflected toward saidrod when said armsare moved inwardly-by an obstruction in-the pipe line 6'. In-a devicefor passing cables through pipe lines,- the' combination of a rod, a plurality ofpairs of arms arranged at intervals about said rod, one end of-each arm of a pairbeinglpivotally connectedto the adjaoent 'end of the'otherarm, and the other ends-of sa id arms being spacedapart; slide members adapted to slidelen'gthwise of saidrod and to which said spaced apart-ends of said armsare pivotally connected, springsacting. on said: slides and tending to move said arms'in a direction to'move their pivotall-y connected ends outwardly with reference'tosaid rod, and a cup-shaped'propelling memberof flexible material arranged between said arms.

7; :In a'device for passrngicables through pipelines, thecombinationof a rod; a plura lity ofpairs of'arms arranged at intervals 1 aboutsaid rod, one end of each arm of a pair beingpivota lly connected to the adj acent end'ro-f the other arm, and the other ends of said arms being spaced apart, slide members adapt-ed'to slide lengthwise ofsaid'rod and towhi'ch said spaced apart ends of said arms are pivota-lly connected, springs acting; on said sl'ides and tending to move said arms in a direction-tomove their pivotally connected ends outwardly with reference to said rod,

housings for said springs and said slide membersand mounted'on'said rod, anda cup-shaped propelling member of flexible material arranged between said arms.

8. In a device for passing cables through pipe lines, the combination of a rod, a plurality-of pairs of armsarrangeda-t intervals i s-emcee about-said'rod, one endof-each arm of apair beingpivot'all y connectedto the adjacent end of the otherarm and thezother ends of saidarms being. spaced apart andfslidably ar ranged relatively to sand rod, springs acting on'the sl dably arranged ends-of said arms and' tending to move the piv'otally connected ends thereof outwardly with reference to said rod, mand a housingmember adapted to be'secured to said rod and having housings arranged atintervals about said rod in whichthe springs are contained.

9. In a device for passingcables through pipe lines, the combination of a rod, a plurality of pairs of arms arranged at intervals about said rod, one end of each arm of a pair being. pivotally connected to the adjacent end of the other arm, and the other ends of said arms being-4 spaced apart, slide members adapted to slidelengthwise of said "rod and to which said spaced apart ends of said arms are pivotally connected, springs acting on said slides and tending to move saidarms in a direction to move their pivotall-yconnected housings for said springs and said slide members and vmounted on said rod,- and meanson sald hOLlSll'lgSfOl limiting the shding movement of said slide members relatively ends outwardly with reference to-said rod,

tions of sa d arms outwardly with reference to said rodj rollers journal-led on the pivotally connected ends of each pair of arms and adapted to roll freely in contact with the pipe to reduceqtheresistance of the movement of said device through a 'pipe, and a cup-shaped propelling member of flexible material arranged between said arms.

JOHN THOMPSON. WILLIAM H. THoMPsoN. 

